Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 182, NWS Birmingham, AL

December 9, 2008Greene County, Pickens County, Alabama

NWS Birmingham, AL issued this tornado warning at Dec 9, 2008, 11:13 PM CST for Greene County, Pickens County, Alabama. It was in force for 32 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Dec 9, 2008, 11:13 PM CST (05:13 UTC)
Expired
Dec 9, 2008, 11:45 PM CST
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Birmingham, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Greene County, AL, Pickens County, AL

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:16 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Dec 9, 8:03 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 132 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2008-12-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 167 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2008-12-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 336 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
167 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-33 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
741 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
336 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
421 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS54 KBMX 100513
TORBMX
ALC063-107-100545-
/O.NEW.KBMX.TO.W.0182.081210T0513Z-081210T0545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1113 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  PICKENS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...REFORM...PICKENSVILLE...GORDO...
  CARROLLTON...ALICEVILLE...

* UNTIL 1145 PM CST

* AT 1107 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES SOUTH OF
  MEMPHIS...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALICEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  50 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  ALICEVILLE...MCMULLEN AND GARDEN BY 1120 PM CST...
  CARROLLTON AND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF BENEVOLA BY 1130 PM CST...
  GORDO AND 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF REFORM BY 1140 PM CST...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3315 8833 3316 8833 3334 8816 3348 8784
      3316 8784 3299 8825 3306 8834 3314 8834
TIME...MOT...LOC 0513Z 231DEG 44KT 3309 8823

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 100523
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1123 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

ALC063-107-100545-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0182.000000T0000Z-081210T0545Z/
GREENE AL-PICKENS AL-
1122 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CST FOR PICKENS
AND NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTIES...

AT 1116 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR GEORGE DOWNER AIRPORT...OR
ABOUT NEAR ALICEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CARROLLTON AND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF BENEVOLA BY 1130 PM CST...
  OWENS AND 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF PIONEER BY 1135 PM CST...  

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3315 8833 3316 8833 3334 8816 3348 8784
      3316 8784 3299 8825 3306 8834 3314 8834
TIME...MOT...LOC 0522Z 231DEG 44KT 3317 8813

$$
000 
WWUS54 KBMX 100539
SVSBMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1139 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

ALC063-100549-
/O.CAN.KBMX.TO.W.0182.000000T0000Z-081210T0545Z/
GREENE AL-
1139 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3318 8814 3334 8816 3348 8784 3316 8784
      3316 8804
TIME...MOT...LOC 0539Z 231DEG 44KT 3334 8794

$$

ALC107-100545-
/O.CON.KBMX.TO.W.0182.000000T0000Z-081210T0545Z/
PICKENS AL-
1139 PM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CST FOR EASTERN
PICKENS COUNTY...

AT 1135 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR OWENS...OR ABOUT NEAR
GORDO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LUBBUB BY 1145 PM CST...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR WESTERN ALABAMA.

LAT...LON 3318 8814 3334 8816 3348 8784 3316 8784
      3316 8804
TIME...MOT...LOC 0539Z 231DEG 44KT 3334 8794

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 9, 8:52 PM CSTFlash Flood WatchBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston7 hr
Dec 9, 9:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion45 min
Dec 9, 9:45 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston3 hr
Dec 9, 9:59 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXLamar, Marion31 min
Dec 9, 10:01 PM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens44 min
Dec 9, 10:47 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Greene, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker43 min
Dec 9, 11:01 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Winston3 hr
Dec 9, 11:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston39 min
Dec 9, 11:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa30 min
Dec 10, 12:06 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Tuscaloosa, Walker24 min
Dec 10, 12:22 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter38 min
Dec 10, 12:31 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXFayette, Walker29 min
Dec 10, 12:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker49 min
Dec 10, 12:50 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa40 min
Dec 10, 12:55 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa50 min
Dec 10, 12:59 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXWalker, Winston16 min
Dec 10, 1:09 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Walker6 min
Dec 10, 1:31 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa44 min
Dec 10, 1:32 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPickens, Tuscaloosa28 min
Dec 10, 1:55 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXJefferson9 min
Dec 10, 1:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson, Walker33 min
Dec 10, 2:00 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXFayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker30 min
Dec 10, 2:12 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa48 min
Dec 10, 2:26 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBlount, Etowah34 min
Dec 10, 2:32 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBlount, Jefferson28 min
Dec 10, 3:07 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXMarengo, Sumter23 min
Dec 10, 3:11 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBibb, Tuscaloosa34 min
Dec 10, 3:28 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXAutauga, Chilton, Dallas34 min
Dec 10, 3:38 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXJefferson37 min
Dec 10, 4:17 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCherokee13 min
Dec 10, 4:38 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXSt. Clair20 min
Dec 10, 4:40 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXLowndes, Montgomery35 min
Dec 10, 4:44 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningBMXJefferson3 hr
Dec 10, 5:07 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXBibb, Chilton, Dallas, Perry23 min
Dec 10, 5:32 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Tallapoosa28 min
Dec 10, 6:24 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXPike51 min
Dec 10, 6:43 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXPike47 min
Dec 10, 6:49 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCleburne, Randolph15 min
Dec 10, 6:51 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter6 days
Dec 10, 6:51 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningBMXGreene, Hale, Marengo, Sumter6 days
Dec 10, 7:18 AM CSTTornado WarningBMXCoosa, Tallapoosa27 min
Dec 10, 7:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour, Pike49 min
Dec 10, 8:24 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBMXBarbour36 min
Dec 10, 9:56 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryBMXBarbour, Pike4 hr
Dec 10, 3:24 PM CSTFlash Flood WatchBMXAutauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers and 24 more20 hr
Dec 10, 3:54 PM CSTWinter Storm WatchBMXFayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston12 hr
Dec 10, 4:01 PM CSTLake Wind AdvisoryBMXAutauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun and 33 more29 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.